This is another of those posts that might only be for my own benefit, so that the next time I need to change the oil on my wife’s 2008 Cadillac Escalade, I can simply locate this post to remember what parts I used… and whether I liked them. 🙂

I drove the car around on a few errands to warm up the oil, then brought it home and drove it on my lift. I removed the drain plug and let the old oil drain into the metal oil tray on my lift, and when it slowed to a drip, I removed the filter and let it drain from there, too.

When the dripping stopped, I used some shop rags to clean things up, re-installed the drain plug, and put on the new filter: a K&N HP-1017, I chose that oil filter for a few reasons. I’ve had great results from K&N oil filters on my Sea-Doos and other cars in the past, and the K&N HP line has a good reputation without costing too much. But one thing I really love about the filter is that it can be tightened and removed with a standard 1″ wrench or socket (though I used a 27mm 12 point socket).

K&N HP-1017 oil filter

The 2008 Cadillac Escalade holds 6 quarts of oil, so I bought a large 5 qt bottle of Royal Purple Synthetic 5W30, plus a 1 qt small bottle to finish the job. I’d also considered the Royal Purple Oil Filter, because it’s also a great choice… but it doesn’t have the wrench point, so the K&N won out.

Royal Purple 5W30 synthetic oil

Using a large funnel, I poured in the 5 quart bottle, then a little bit of the 1 quart, before checking the oil level with the dipstick. It showed full, but after starting the engine and letting it run for a couple of minutes, it was reading about 3/4 full. I ended up using all of the remaining 1 qt bottle to get it to full, meaning I’d done a pretty good job draining nearly all the old oil out before re-filling (draining the engine while it’s warm really helps with that).

After taking the Escalade off the lift, I drained the lift’s oil tray into my Blitz 12 qt Dispos-Oil container, so I can take the old oil (and the old filter) to my local auto parts store for recycling.

With all the “dirty work” done, I used a Sharpie to write the date, mileage, and next oil change mileage for the Escalade on the window cling that comes with the K&N oil filter (another feature of that filter I like) and put it on the driver’s side of the windscreen. To reset the engine oil life message, I scrolled through the on-board computer to find the “1% OIL LIFE REMAINING” message, then held down the checkmark button for a few seconds until the screen reset to “100% OIL LIFE REMAINING.”

Changing your oil teaches you more about your car, allows you know the job’s done right, and saves lots of money over the dealership or an oil change shop. If you’ve never changed your own oil before, don’t be scared to give it a try. You probably have a friend, family member, or neighbor who will be willing to help you learn. And if they have a lift, they may even let you borrow it!